Montgomery ponders teacher tenure

Saturday

TROY — School systems are trying to adapt to changes in the Teacher Tenure Law made by the current N.C. General Assembly.

TROY — School systems are trying to adapt to changes in the Teacher Tenure Law made by the current N.C. General Assembly.

Montgomery Superintendent Dr. Dale Ellis told the board of education at the regular meeting on Oct. 7 that there are still a lot of unknowns and uncertainties and school systems are waiting for interpretations from the state board of education.

Ellis said that he thinks the General Assembly is trying to move toward a merit-based system so that teachers who are doing a poorer job will make less.

“We will work on it for the next couple of months and then have a recommendation for you,” he told the board.

One of the major changes is the elimination of Career Status by July 1, 2018. A teacher who had not attained career status in his/her current school district prior to the beginning of this school year cannot attain career status.

* By July 1, 2014, school systems must offer 25 percent of the “best” tenured teachers the opportunity to give up tenure and receive up to a four-year contract which includes an annual pay raise of $500 during the four years.

Ellis said that he must decide which teachers to include in the 25 percent by May.

“What criteria will be used is my concern,” he said and, adding that there are a lot of unknowns. He described the process as “very problematic for this first year.”

This is one of the issues on which every school system in the state is seeking clarification.

* The General Assembly left it up to each school district to determine which teachers will be offered this opportunity.

* School systems are still waiting on an interpretation to see if employees in the following categories can be considered as a part of the 25 percent who can be offered a four-year contract: guidance counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, speech-language pathologists and media coordinators.

* For the 2014-15 school year, 25 percent of the teachers will be offered up to a four-year contract, tenured teachers will continue to hold that status until June 30, 2018.

* All other teachers can only be offered a year-to-year contract.

* All teachers who have not been granted career status prior to the 2013-14 school year shall be offered only one year contracts.

* Probationary teachers are only eligible for one-year contracts.

* After July 1, 2018, all teachers will be offered either a one-, two- or four-year contract to continue employment.

* Starting in the spring of 2018, recommendations for teacher renewals shall include the term of the contract: one-year contracts for teachers with less than three years with Montgomery County Schools and one-, two- or four-year contracts for teachers with three or more years in the system.

Ellis offered the following points concerning the calculation of the 25 percent of “best” teachers.

No criteria has been established for “best” and there was no explanation for the 25 percent rule.

* “For each school system, the 25 percent is based on the number of eligible teachers employed as of Sept. 1, 2013.

* Minimum standards: The teacher must be in tenured status and must show effectiveness as demonstrated by proficiency on the teacher evaluation instrument.

* Nothing in the statute precludes the superintendent from adding criteria for selection.

Ellis told board members that “my recommendation at this point is to form a committee of teachers to formulate a plan of how to make the 25 percent choices.”

His recommendations for factors to consider when determining the 25 percent:

* Recognize that the nature of the teacher evaluation instrument involves subjectivity.

* Recognize the impact of testing and accountability.

* Understand the big picture and repercussions of the decisions.

* Consider taking the top 25 percent from each school.

* Consider taking the top 25 percent of the eligible elementary, middle and high school teachers.

* Consider choosing the top 25 percent of the eligible teachers in each licensure area.

* Consider half of the 25 percent in hard-to-fill areas such as science, math and exceptional educational teachers.

Some school systems in the state have announced that they will select teachers by a lottery system with the stipulation that teachers who are chosen could turn it down.

Ellis said the 25 percent requirement has to be met by July 2014. He expects some clarifications, but said Montgomery County must proceed to adopt a selection process.

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